City ​​of Witches 187

Chapter 187 – #41_Twin Rush

#185

1.
Fortunately for Sharon, Deneb hadn’t come to collect a debt or to seize money after hearing that a debtor had won a large bounty.
In fact, the 58 billion won that Deneb had lent Sharon ten years ago was just pocket change compared to the vast wealth of the Geminae family.

The original purpose of the Geminae lending money to Sharon wasn’t to engage in debt trading, but rather to secure and review the magical research data that Evergreen had accumulated.
Therefore, unlike Sharon’s trembling worries, Deneb simply made a light eye contact and entered the living room.

Siwoo tidied up the living room table, which was cluttered with various items, and guided Deneb.
Sharon, sensing the mood, took out fruit from the refrigerator and washed it.
Deneb glanced at Sharon, then at Siwoo, before handing over a paper bag she was holding.

“It’s a housewarming gift.”
“Ah, thank you.”

The shape, weight, and the sloshing sound when held made it clear that it was alcohol.
Anyway, Siwoo felt unnecessarily awkward.

Usually, housewarmings are filled with bright smiles and boisterous celebrations, but Deneb sat with a consistently expressionless face.
The fact that Deneb, who was more fastidious than Albireo, who had considered Siwoo’s circumstances, was more difficult to deal with was another reason.

“Ahem, thanks to Count Geminae’s kindness, I’m living comfortably.”

Siwoo cleared his throat to break the awkward silence.
Deneb, who had been scanning the corners of the room with her eyes, responded.

“I was uneasy when you insisted on going to the mortal realm, refusing to be treated as a guest. I’m glad to see you’re doing well.”

It was hard to tell how sincere she was, but Deneb was being polite.
This was making Siwoo sweat.

The main reason Siwoo was half-expelled from Gehenna was the concern that he was forming too close a relationship with the twins.
In that situation, to be living with another witch less than a year later…
Siwoo was subtly worried about how Deneb would see it.

“Are there any difficulties in your life?”
“Thanks to your consideration, I’m living comfortably.”
“I see.”

However, Deneb didn’t bother to make an issue of it.
Come to think of it, she had always treated Siwoo quite respectfully, even though she had drawn a line before.
He wasn’t so clueless as to add, ‘Well, your sister was the one who half-kicked me out…’ in this situation.

“H-Have some while we talk.”
“Thank you.”

At that moment, Sharon, who had been cutting fruit in the kitchen, placed a plate full of sliced pears and apples on the table, somewhat stiffly.
Not knowing the full story, Sharon felt like she was sitting in the same room as a beast that might devour her at any moment.

“I appreciate you taking the time to visit… but what brings you here?”

Sharon quietly swallowed her breath at Siwoo’s question.
Deneb crunched on an apple and sighed before answering.

“Hoo… I think it would be faster to show you directly.”
“What do you mean…”

While Siwoo was puzzled by Deneb’s cryptic words, Deneb hesitated several times before getting up from her seat.
Then, she lifted her wide dress, which gave off the impression of a dignified noblewoman.

Siwoo couldn’t even cover his eyes at the sudden exposure of her underwear.
However, he wouldn’t get to know what color the undergarments of the esteemed Count Deneb Geminae were.
As Deneb suddenly lifted her skirt, familiar faces appeared from within, as if in a magic show.

“……….”
“……….”

The two people nestled in Deneb’s skirt like baby birds were, of course, Odile and Odette.
Instead of their trademark half-bonnets, their hair was braided into several strands and styled into princess-like buns.
Their mature black dresses harmonized with their doll-like features, showing off their unchanging cuteness.

Siwoo was startled.
He was surprised not only by the place where the twins popped out, but also by the fact that the doting count would bring the twins to the mortal realm.

“For my honor, I swear this surprise was planned and executed by these little troublemakers.”
“I think I could have guessed that…”

Deneb, who seemed a bit embarrassed, straightened her skirt after the twins came out, as if she had briefly used spatial distortion.
Her expression had softened a bit, so it seemed that her stiff face earlier was because she was reluctantly going along with this event.

“………”
“………”

However, Odile and Odette, who he thought would rush towards Siwoo, stood still as if they had glitched.
They stared at Sharon with their large, jewel-like purple eyes, as if they had received a great shock.
Odette even had her mouth half-open.

“Kids?”

Deneb tilted her head.
The twins had been excited to meet their assistant, wandering the hallways all night and not sleeping, and had been fussing about getting dolled up since dawn.
Yet, they hadn’t even greeted the assistant they had been saying they missed so much.
It was clearly a breach of etiquette, so Deneb tapped the twins on their backs.

“It’s been a while, Assistant.”
“I’m glad you seem healthy.”

After being prompted a couple of times, the twins gave a polite and elegant greeting that even their etiquette teacher couldn’t fault.
It was the kind of grace that only a ‘noble’ could show, one who had cultivated their innate nobility, something that not everyone could do even if taught.

“Oh, yes. It’s nice to see you. It’s been a long time.”
“Indeed.”
“Yes.”

They were probably holding back because Deneb was there.
Siwoo was happy to see them, but also slightly taken aback by their excessive formality.
Deneb, who had waited for the three to greet each other, opened her mouth.

“The twins were making such a fuss about wanting to see their assistant that I brought them along while doing some official business. They’ll be staying here for about four days.”
“Pardon?”
“I was originally going to book a separate room… but well, I’ll be here too, so there shouldn’t be any major problems. I plan to pay enough for the stay.”
“Yes, but are you really okay with that?”
“Okay with what?”

Siwoo explained to Deneb why he was surprised.

“The mortal realm is dangerous, isn’t it? There are exiles, homunculi, and all sorts of things…”

That’s right.
He knew well how much Albireo and Deneb worried about and loved the twins.
However, he couldn’t understand why they would take the risk of an outing to the mortal realm just to indulge the twins’ stubbornness.

“It’s not like the mortal realm is a complete lawless zone, unless you’re planning to live here permanently. In Siwoo’s case, it’s a combination of several special circumstances that make it particularly dangerous, but there are plenty of exiles raising apprentice witches in the mortal realm.”

In other words, going to the mortal realm with an apprentice witch was about as dangerous as traveling abroad late at night, not as dangerous as going on a tour to a third-world conflict zone.
That was the explanation Deneb added.

“I’d appreciate it if you could show the twins around the local area when it gets light. I don’t think I’ll be able to accompany them because I’m busy with work. It’s important for apprentice witches to gain various experiences.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“And could you come out for a moment? Odile, Odette.”
“Yes, Teacher.”
“You two wait here quietly and don’t cause any trouble.”
“Yes.”

Leaving behind the twins, who were answering more calmly than Siwoo had ever seen, Deneb and Siwoo went up to the rooftop for a moment.
The harsh wind and rain were still blowing, but with a wave of Deneb’s hand, a thin barrier formed, blocking all the wind and raindrops.

“You smoke, right?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Shall we talk while having a smoke?”

Deneb naturally put a cigarette in her mouth, and Siwoo also turned his head and lit one.
The smoke he exhaled billowed and scattered fiercely.
The beautiful Deneb signaled the start of the conversation with a deep sigh.

“How is it? Living in the mortal realm.”
“It hasn’t been without its troubles, but thanks to your various considerations, it’s been livable. The ring you gave me back then has also been a great help.”
“That’s a relief. Honestly, I wanted you to stay in Gehenna. If anything were to go wrong, I wouldn’t have been able to sleep soundly.”

Considering that the last image Siwoo had of Deneb was her being angry after finding out about him kissing Odile (that’s what Deneb thought), her tone was more friendly than Siwoo had expected.

“No, it’s not. I was the one who insisted on leaving.”
“…Actually, I heard about it from Albireo later. That you were forced to leave, more or less.”
“Ah, that’s…”
“I’m sorry.”

It seemed that Deneb hadn’t heard the reason why Siwoo was expelled, as she seemed calm.
She paused for a moment before asking.

“What is your relationship with the person you’re living with?”

Siwoo hesitated a little at the sudden question.
It was a dilemma caused by not being able to determine exactly how to explain it.

“I apologize for bringing her into the house without permission.”
“Siwoo, I’m not trying to blame you.”
“…She’s a friend. It just so happened that the circumstances aligned, and we ended up living together.”

Deneb made a thoughtful expression at Siwoo’s answer.

“So, it’s not a formal relationship or a romantic one?”
“No.”

He almost added, ‘Not yet…’ but decided against it.

Deneb looked even more troubled.

In fact, Deneb had been thinking a lot.
She hadn’t had a deep relationship with a man, but she had lived for many years.
Thinking carefully about the scene when the twins had faced Siwoo, she had come to a realization.

It was clear that the twins had feelings for Siwoo, so much so that no proof was needed.
In Deneb’s opinion, Siwoo was a good man whom she would gladly allow to have a deep relationship with Odile or Odette in the future.
Moreover, now that he was a spirit, there was no need to worry about the man’s lifespan, and they could live as spouses for the rest of their lives.

However, as a result of the count’s family not trusting Siwoo and acting rashly…
They had ‘kicked him out,’ ‘taken away the opportunity for the twins to form a good relationship,’ and ‘that opportunity might have gone to another witch.’
She once again felt that she had done something terrible to him, and she felt ashamed before the twins.

Of course, she had no intention of allowing an imprudent relationship that could threaten the safety of an apprentice witch.
That would be like leaving the twins to play with an unexploded bomb.

But other than that.
For example, she planned to handle things in such a way that the twins could spend quality time with Siwoo and leave a good impression, or create good memories together so that Siwoo would remember the twins even if they were apart for a while.

“I won’t be able to stay by the twins’ side for long because I’m busy with work. Please take good care of them, Siwoo.”
“Pardon?”
“It would be uncomfortable for everyone if I were there when you’ve met after so long.”
“No, it’s not. Odile and Odette will enjoy spending time with you, Count Deneb.”

Deneb was satisfied with his answer.
If he were a man full of ulterior motives, he wouldn’t have turned down the opportunity to be alone with the twins.

Deneb admitted that she had been clouded by the shock of Odile having a boyfriend that day.
A man who had risked his life twice for others couldn’t possibly be so pathetic as to thoughtlessly reach out to the twins and ruin everything.

“I’ve sent gifts for the twins, so please make sure they use them well. I’ll be staying at a nearby hotel, so please call me if you need anything. Oh, and could you tell the twins that I had an urgent matter and had to leave first?”
“Yes, I understand.”

Deneb handed Siwoo her business card, who was still bewildered, and then went down the stairs first.